[Archived] Michael Shields

[adopted scouser]

Glad, yes GLAD he's not getting a pardon.

Where's the proof he's innocent ? So someone else coughs knowing full well he can't be extradited.

It'll take more than getting all your relatives on Granada Reports to get him out of jail - proof please

[mellison24]

Glad, yes GLAD he's not getting a pardon.

Where's the proof he's innocent ? So someone else coughs knowing full well he can't be extradited.

It'll take more than getting all your relatives on Granada Reports to get him out of jail - proof please

But you could argue, where is the proof he's guilty? There is nothing to suggest he did it, other than the plain white shirt he was forced to wear upon being arrested (as it was the colour the assailant wore) which he wasn't wearing at the time of the incident. Nor was he anywhere near it. (He's a mate's cousin, I'm bound to get defensive).

[Drummer Boy]

I'm not familiar with the details of the case but can see that Michael Shields has family that care very deeply for him and that the crime he is alleged to have committed would be considered out of character

At the same time, Jack Straw is no slouch and has no axe to grind nor is the Bulgarian judicial system designed to lock up innocent people.

Something doesn't add up here - can anyone throw any light on the subject?

[nowthen]

Followed this case a bit. The conviction was very dodgy and the case wouldn't have seen the inside of a courtroom over here. Can't help thinking that Jack Straw made some assurances to the Bulgarians before extradition. I may be well wide of the mark.

[1864roverite]

The case isnt dodgy at all, its only his relatives and followers that have claimed that.

The case has been fully reviewed by a Top Lawyer and he has decided the case is sufficiently tight to warrant a NO PARDON being given to the lad, I think we can all read that the evidence is conclusive OTHERWISE if there were reasons, dodgy evidence and the like, the case would have been highlighted.

Finally, you will take note that on this occasion there are NO Kangaroo court room Lawyers voicing opinion, which again, and IMO, represents a solid water tight case.

Stay in gaol, do not pass go, do not collect £200.

[herbergeehh]

Didn't someone else admit to this though?

edit: Sorry, just checked for myself, seems like he withdrew his confession for some reason.

[T4E]

This is one of the most confusing cases I can remember in recent times.

Can anyone explain the facts?

[Cocker]

This is what Wiki has on it - Click

[Napoleon]

Jack Straw is reluctant to release him because he thinks it will harm the UKs chances of having prisoners abroad sent to the UK to finish their sentences, if they think we will just pardon them without conclusive proof.

[Hasta]

From what I can remember there were multiple witnesses at the scene who identified the lad as definitely being the assailant regardless of how 'easy' it was supposed to be to pick the Brit out of the line-up.

However I seem to remember a doorman at the hotel where Shields was staying also testifiying that he saw him return to the hotel before the actual attack is supposed to have happened.

I have no idea one way or the other if he did it or not.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

Shields is freed - but Merseysiders are still angry with Jack Straw....

Jack Straw is reluctant to release him because he thinks it will harm the UKs chances of having prisoners abroad sent to the UK to finish their sentences

Today Mr Straw claims that he is "delighted and astonished that new evidence has emerged" which has allowed him to give Michael Shields a free pardon.

It's reported that the "new evidence" is actually a confession from someone else that had been part of Shields' campaign from the start.

Despite Shields being freed today, Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley has hit out at Jack Straw and accused him of dragging his feet. Mr Bradley said that Straw should have issued the pardon earlier. "Jack Straw prolonged the period of incarceration and the agony that Michael, his family and supporters clearly felt," said Mr Bradley.

Having had a well-publicised "FREE MICHAEL NOW" campaign involving Liverpool players like Steven Gerrard, one wonders whether Liverpudlians will now focus their anger and attention on Jack Straw - with a special "SACK THE MAN OF STRAW" campaign.

Perhaps some Liverpool fans will claim that Straw has been prejudiced against their city and football club and that he needs to be sacked for keeping Shields in prison for too long.

[American]

Is there anyone Straw won't free?

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

In 2005 a Bulgarian court heard that a group of around ten Liverpool football fans, including Shields, engaged in a drunken fracas in the seaside town of Golden Sands in Bulgaria.

Martin Georgiev came out of the cafe in which he worked as a barman to investigate the fracas. He was knocked down, kicked and punched repeatedly by at least three people. Aren't some Liverpool fans lovely?

While Georgiev was lying on the ground, three Bulgarian witnesses told the court that they saw Shields pick up an 8lb paving slab and bring it down on Georgiev's head, while two others laid into him with hefty kicks.

Daniela Krumova, a waitress, identified Shields as the person who hit Mr Georgiev with the slab. "He was mad," she said, "out of control." According to Ms Krumova, Shields held the slab with both hands above his head and threw it at Georgiev's head with all his might.

Mr Georgiev suffered significant brain damage after his skull was broken open during the attack and he's now unable to work.

Anfield electrician Graham Sankey later confessed to attacking Georgiev. He has previously been arrested for violent offences on a number of occasions in the past.

This is Sankey pictured below. He looks a lovely chap doesn't he?

The Bulgarian court refused to acknowledge Sankey's confession unless he agreed to appear in court. Sankey wasn't prepared to do this and subsequently withdrew his confession, claiming he had been involved in a separate incident. The confession itself by Sankey didn't match any of the facts determined by the investigation, including an inaccurate description of the attack weapon.

In 2006 Shields returned to Britain and was placed in HMP Hindley in Wigan. Jack Straw refused a pardon, initially claiming that such an action was beyond his authority.

Just two months ago in July a statement issued by the Ministry of Justice said:

"Following a detailed and careful consideration of all the relevant evidence the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has made a provisional decision that the application for a free pardon from Mr Michael Shields should be refused."

But now it appears that despite the "detailed and careful consideration of evidence" earlier, Jack Straw has now freed Shields - claiming that he's "delighted and astonished" by new evidence.

Something doesn't seem right with this case for me at all. An innocent Bulgarian man had his skull smashed open in a horrific attack. He suffered significant brain damage and nearly lost his life. Yet nobody has served a full sentence for the crime. Whoever carried out the brutal attempted murder is currently free to walk the streets. Justice for Mr Georgiev has not happened.

Don't Liverpool fans feel that Martin Georgiev is in need of justice? If there are to be any campaigns now it should be "JUSTICE FOR MR GEORGIEV" - but I doubt that Steven Gerrard and various other Liverpool "celebs" will be putting such a T-shirt on.....

[Hughesy]

Something doesn't seem right with this case for me at all. An innocent Bulgarian man had his skull smashed open in a horrific attack. He suffered significant brain damage and nearly lost his life. Yet nobody has served a full sentence for the crime. Whoever carried out the brutal attempted murder is currently free to walk the streets. Justice for Mr Georgiev has not happened.

Don't Liverpool fans feel that Martin Georgiev is in need of justice? If there are to be any campaigns now it should be "JUSTICE FOR MR GEORGIEV" - but I doubt that Steven Gerrard and various other Liverpool "celebs" will be putting such a T-shirt on.....

Your such a goody two shoes.......Shields didnt do it, and the other lad admitted he didnt and that it was him.

The Shields family have now also said they want to see the real attacker given the necessary punishment. Its up to the courts to get the right man, not Jack Straw. Based on the evidence Shields didnt do it.

[OhmiBRFC]

We can't sing the Michael Shields song at Anfield now

[American]

Your such a goody two shoes.......Shields didnt do it, and the other lad admitted he didnt and that it was him.

The Shields family have now also said they want to see the real attacker given the necessary punishment. Its up to the courts to get the right man, not Jack Straw. Based on the evidence Shields didnt do it.

What evidence? A man's confession that doesn't match up to the facts? How about the 2 witnesses who said he did?

You know just as much as the rest of us about if he's guilty or not.

[T4E]

What evidence? A man's confession that doesn't match up to the facts? How about the 2 witnesses who said he did?

You know just as much as the rest of us about if he's guilty or not.

This situation is very very strange.

Good post AESF.

[MCMC1875]

Jack Straw breaking new ground here if I read it correctly?

[Sandiway Blue]

We can't sing the Michael Shields song at Anfield now

At least they can put out the candles for a while until some other `injustice` comes along..

[thenodrog]

At least they can put out the candles for a while until some other `injustice` comes along..

There'll be a certain emptiness in their lives. Maybe Boris can come to the rescue again to unite them in angst again.

btw That bloke might have been guilty and obviously he needs questioning in detail. BUT lots of numpties own up to stuff they didn't do in order to get their 5 mins of fame.

However it seems like we no longer need the vastly expensive legal system that we all pay for which is a good do. Jack Straw is obviously well capable and confident enough in his own judgement and wisdom to do the lot. Obviously his lineage must go directly back to King Solomon.

[MCMC1875]

At least they can put out the candles for a while until some other `injustice` comes along..

With scousers it's always somebody elses fault. Slight difference here........

[Sandiway Blue]

With scousers it's always somebody elses fault. Slight difference here........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conviction_of_Michael_Shields

Assuming this is accurate he was apparently identified by NINE different witnesses at having committed the crime,why NINE different people would lie is a mystery to me but there you go.

I don`t know enough about the case to judge whether he is guilty or not,i am just having a dig at the whole circus that surrounds things like this,despite him being actively involved in the crime.

Hillsborough being a case in point,there were a lot of innocent people that died that day and whether scousers like it or not,a sizeable number of their own supporters caused them deaths.But according to liverpudlians it was all down to the police blah blah,we want justice blah blah.Not one of them dare turn around and say "well yes police were at fault but then again if our own fans didn`t try to steal their way into the ground then none of this would have happened".So therefore Liverpool fans like to play the martyr by lighting candles and starting `campaigns` etc etc.

Madeline Mcann was another tragic case.Her parents family hail from Liverpool so yet again out come the candles and the ribbons and all the other crap.How them parents haven`t yet been prosecuted for neglect is beyond me.But yet again they appear totally blameless of any wrongdoing according to the `martyrs`.

[neekoy]

How much money on the other guy being released due to insufficient evidence?

[jim mk2]

Took one look at that little scroat on TV to know he was as guilty as hell. Rough, horrible, nasty, pinched little face, typical of the sort of yob you see hanging round on streets corners.

Disappointing, because his parents looked like decent folk.

[thenodrog]

He's been rather quite since his release so I presume that we will now be reading a 'Michael Shieds.... my nightmare in a Bulgarian prison' in some red top pretty soon.